Ex-GM Jim Bowden: Could there be a trade market for Morneau?

Blog Post by: Howard Sinker

April 12, 2012 - 1:53 PM

Conventional wisdom is that it would be flat-out impossible for the Twins to trade Justin Morneau or Joe Mauer.

Right now, that's true, according to Jim Bowden, the former Cincinnati and Washington general manager who now is a talk show host on XM/Sirius and writes for ESPN.com. He doesn't see any way the Twins could deal Mauer, both because of his contract and other catchers who will be on the market this season.

But Bowden thinks a small market could exist later this season for Morneau, who is signed through 2013 at $14 million per year.

Bowden writes: "Even though there is no trade market today for Morneau, that could change between now and the July 31 trade deadline. If Raul Ibanez struggles or Mitch Moreland doesn’t hit enough, both New York and Texas could be landing places for Morneau. Both of those teams realize come October, they will have to pound the ball against the Tigers, who now own the best hitting tandem in baseball with Miguel Cabrera and (Prince) Fielder.

"If either club gets desperate come July, the Twins could have an opportunity to shed some payroll and possibly get a prospect or two in return. That would be huge for their rebuilding effort. "

Bowden doesn't think there would be interest beyond those teams, and definitely not in the National League because of the DH issue.